The Sun. — London, England, 1838-03-13 00:00:00

of the Post-office for the situations as they became vacant, but that he had invariably refused them even to his own relatives, and friends. These were the grounds on which he (Mr. H.) arraigned the conduct of the present If General, because he contended he ought not to have departed from the excellent regulations laid. down by his i:redecessors. With respect to the situation of Accountant-Gencral it appeared that the person who held that office, Mr. Young had been compelled to retired froM ill health, and his nephew, Mr. George Youug, merformed the entire duty of the department for three years.- Now he contended, that to appoint a perThn like MN Primrose, 'who had never been ie the Post-office, or in fact in any public office, over the head of the individual who had acted as sleputy for such a length of time, was a violation of the regulations of the Post-office, and rendered the situation of Clerk uncertain as to promotion, which according to the Duke of Richmond's regulations would hare gone according to seniority. He objected to the conduct of Lord Lichfield, because it was extremely improper in him to appoint so near a relative, and the second son of an earl, to so paltry a situation, where he superseded so many clerks, who had for many years served their country with honour and fidelity. He ob jected to the appointment, because in no previous instance had a stranger been appointed to the office of Cashier. The Duke of Richmond, when he raised the salary of the office, intended that it should be looked up to by the clerks as a reward for long and faithful service. Injustice had been done, by introducing a stranger at the head of the office in place of putting him in as a junior -clerk, and a great wrong had been done to Mr. Young, who had served with honour and honesty for seven years. Ho believed that the cashier and the accountant sat in the same room— the latter was well acquainted with the duties of the office— he could have performed the service, and as he had been 26 years in the public service, it would have been but fair and reasonable that he should have been placed at the head of the department, and so have added 1001. a year to his salary after so long a service. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving that the appointment of the Hon. Mr. Primrose to the offic e of Cashier and Receiver- General of the Post Office re venues in Scotland, being a person not previously employed in the Post Office, is contrary to the regulations of the Post office, as established by the Duke of Richmond (the Postmas ter General) in 1831, injurious to the public service and pre judicial to the interests of the established clerks and officers in the Post -office establishment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was very glad the Hon. Member had made for himself an opportunity of bearing his testimony to the admirable manner in which his Noble Friend (the Duko of Richmond) had administered the affairs of the Post-office while he was at the head of that de partment. This was admitted not only by the Hon. Member for Kilkenny but he believed by every one else. The Honour able Member endeavoured to show that the Duke of Rich mond was himself an authority for the motion which he had brought forward ; but he would prove to the House that the Honourable Gentleman was under a misconception as to the real state of the facts. The Noble Duke was adverse to the continuance of sinecure offices, but the office held by Mr. Primrose was not a sinecure. The Hon. Gentleman did not even suggest that it was, for it was ad mitted by him that an attendance from ten to three or four was required, and that the party nominated was obliged to give se curity to the extent of 5,0001. for the due and proper dis charge of the duties of his office. In 1831 the Duke of Rich mond occasioned the suppression of the office of Deputy Post master-General of Scotland, a sinecure office, to which a sa lary of 8001. a-year was annexed, and then it was that the office of cashier was first created. The Noble Duke, therefore, was not an authority in favour of, but against the Hon. Gentleman The remittances amounted at that period to 180,0001. and since then they had been increased to the extent of 20,000/. by the new arrangements. This it was that rendered the office of cashier necessary as a check ; but the objection of the Hon. Gentleman was not to the office itself, but that he thought they should not have given the situation to some of the clerks of the department rather than to a stranger. Now, what was the evidence which the Duke of Richmond gave before the Com mittee of 1831 on this subject? Ile said that whenever an office in that department became vacant it should not be filled up by mere preference, but should go to those who deserved compensation, or were entitled to superannuation, for their long services. The principle of rewards thus laid down the Noble Duke had followed out in filling up the vacancies which had occurred at the Post-offices in Bath, Bristol, War wick, Nottingham, Brighton, and other parts of the country. In the same way the Noble Duke bad disposed of the situa tions of agents to the Peat-office packet service, and other affairs of that description. No man had been at more pains to select deserving individuals for the department over which he presided for promotion, but then it was apparent that the role on which the Noble Duke acted, had no applicability whatever to the appointment under discussion. There were in the United Kingdom three appointments, which were all of them analagous. These were check officers. This officer was in England and Ireland called the Receiver-General, but in Scotland he was denominated a cashier. In 1831 a vacancy occurred in Ireland, but so far from that vacancy being filled up according to the principle contended for, the Duke of Richmond, with the sanction of Lord Spencer, gave this ap pointment of check officer to a complete stranger. It ap peared that the Noble Duke considered this affair an ex empted case, and his own minutes showed that he acted on a principle different from that which governed him in other cases. The gentleman appointed as Receiver-General in Ire land was Mr. Worthington ; and he had no connection pre. viously with the Post-office. Lord Lichfield was anxious to carry out the principle on which the Duke of Richmond Acted. The office given to Mr. Primrose had been declined by three gentlemen to whom it had been offered. Mr. Mason, the next officer in rotation, had refused to accept it ; as had also Mr. Horne and Mr. Mole ; the former then actually ap plying to be superannuated, and the latter not wishing to give tip a salary of 5001. a-year for one of 4001.-4 A laugh.) Now, it was important that the cheek officer should be perfectly dis tinct from the department itself, and the appointment of Mr. Maberloy proceeded on the ground that it was right to fill up such situations with persons who could have no attachment to the old system. Indeed this consideration it was that caused Mr. Freoling to be transferred to the Board of Customs; without the principle of selection it would be impossible to carry on the public service. This was the principle acted on in the ap pointments of the Assistant- Secretaries both at the Colonial and Foreign affairs. Mr. Backhouse was not promoted but se lected for the office which he now hold. As this was an office of check merely no previous knowledge of the business of the Post -office was necessary, and that was another reason why a stranger was better than one who had been connected with the department. The same rule was adopted in other depart ments of the public se Tice. The auditor of the Board of .!..:acise was an appointment made in the same way, and at the Treasur y ••1 • • Th. .1 too a similar principle was acted on in certain cases. Itt respect to different systems of convey ing remittances, all ho could say was, that the subject had undergone inquiry, And the result was that Lord Lichfield found any alteration Would cost more than the present system, and, besi•les that, b 0 other plan would be so convenient or practicable. lie must 7!t th y that acting upon any other principle than that of selection would be depi lying the Crown of the power of applying the best resources of the country to the public service; and for this reason, as well as because any other course would lead to great discontent, he must oppose the Hon. Member's motion. Mr. WALLACE dissented from almost all that had fallen from the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Ex -Intler, and could not assent to much of what his Hon. Friend the Member for Kilkenny had stated.—(A laugh.) He must say he thought the office in question had not been Properly bestowed. At the time the Duke of Richmond gave tho evidence alluded to he had but recently entered office, and therefore could not have a sufficient knoele to of the business of the department over which he presided. Ile, therefore, laid very little stress on the testimony which the Noble Duke gave. It could not be denied that the office of Postmaster -General was a job, and for his own part he did not hes:tate to say that this appointment of Cashier was a still greater j0b...„-( Cries of " No, no," from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.) He asserted that it was. If such an office should exist were there not plenty of men in the department not only fully equal to the performance of the duty, but as deservingwill of the situation as Colonel Moberly? It was, he thought, clear that the Duke of Richmond meant to act on the principle of promoting well-deserving officers to the vacancies as they occurred in the department, and any one who read his evidence attentively could arrive at no other conclusion. There was at present an Accountant in the Post Office in Scotland. That was a check officer, and therefore if the appointment were to be made at all he was the party to whom it should have been given. He asserted that if the Postmaster-General had discharged his dutyproperly he would have looked through the department generally, whether in ttgland, Ireland, or Scotland, to see if he could not find lorae fit and proper person for the office, rather than nominate a stranger to it. Now, with respect to what the Right Hon. ttlentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer said as to the economy of remitting money under the present system, what zealleivte?that the Right Hon. Gentleman wished the House t o Why, neither more nor less than that it was cheaper to f orward remittances by a circuitous than a direct route. oth the Excise and the Customs forwarded their remittances di to London, and for his part he could see no goodprea -47_11y N% their example should not be followed in the ost ms hen th e office of cashier was first created the Duke G 'Richmond h a d b ut just been inducte d i nto office. It had -ell said that these appointments were never made without co nsultati on wi t h the Treasury ; but, if that were so, how Ch ancello r happen that neither the Right lion. Gentleman the of the Exchequer or any other Minister con nected with the Treasury was acquainted with this appoint ? Mr. Y oung had filled the office at a s a lary of 400/., an d the party who had done the d u ty s i nce hi s d eat h rece i ve d fort' 1201., and yet, whets the country w ere cr yi n g aloud 0.. a reduced rate of postage, an increase in the expenditure 8001. was made. Now, was this commonly fair ? This gentleman Who h a d been appointed was at present only twenty ,O,ur year s o f age. lie wished to ask the Chancellor of the o:!chequer w h ether, in case in the course of a few years this Ince ld s hculd be f oun d to b e o f no use, t h e i n di v i dual holding 4 `e it oo on the office being abolished have a compensation tutor( e efficeitn" • lie (Mr. Wallace) had been informed that this had been filled by deputy for a considerable time, with a Jew to not t h e appointment open to this individual. Now, a_tutty% it hstanding all th e re li ance t h at h a d b een p l aced on the uuhorit), of the Duke of Richmond, yet when th at N o bl e S u 3e vtas in office he appointed his own broth er ( L ord po_ x Len nox ) to be Postmaster-General of Jamaica. The 'll. Member stated in conclusion that be would support the Notion before the House. 7The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in ply to the question of the lion. Member fur Greenock, that i ti t i ti T ce was abolished this gentleman would not be en - all: - to co mpensation. He would not be entitled to a retiring ~,w ` "lee until he lied been for at least ten years in the service. aadonel SIBTHORP said, that if the Hon. Member for Kilkenny would divide the House he would feel bound tt support the motion, The 1406, Member had said that ht would prefer havitig the management of the Post-office placed in Commiteitern but that he (Colottel Sibthorp) was opposed. bees ISQ he agreed lit the opinion that a Commission moult Only open the door to jobbing. The Right lion. Gentleman whve bird addressed the House on the part of the Governmen' had given no satisfactory explanation, Their whole system was ono of jobbing, and they applied the patronage of the Crown with A View to the increase of their own power. Ths Clerkship of the Ordnance had been kept open waiting for the highest bidder-waiting for whoever would give the most service in return. The whole system was one which any man ought to be ashamed to defend. Colonel ANSON thought that those who brought forward this motion were as much influenced by personal as political feelings. The Hon. Member for Kilkenny was guilty of many mistakes with respect to this appointment. He was quite mistaken in stating the place to be a sinecure; but though the Hon. Member, in one part of his speech, did state it to be a sinecure, in another he gave a description of the duties to be performed. The Hon. Member for Greenock had made a state ment to which ho was surprised how he could have given credit, namely, that this situation had been filled by a deputy to keep it open for its present occupant. This statement, was too ridiculous, and he was surprised how any one could be imposed on by it. However, he could say that it was totally unfounded. Though this situation was described as of no importance, such was by no means the fact, and he would direct the attention of the House upon that point to what was stated in the report of the Commissioners of Revenue Inquiry, and which had already been referred to. The Duke of Richmond thought the situation so important that in 1834 he separated the duties, and made this a distinct office. He did not deny but that a junior officer in a public department might naturally look for ward to promotion to higher offices, but it could not be dis puted but that circumstances might often arise which would make it more beneficial to the service that this rule should not be adhered to. He claimed for the head of every depart ment the right of appointing those individuals whom he thought to be most fit and best able to perform his duties. There were Receivers-General appointed in England and in Ireland, and if either of those offices became vacant the Post master-General would not be consulted as to the filling them up ; for these offices would be filled up by the Government without the interference of the Postmaster -General. He thought that Lord Lichfield was perfectly justified in the ap- 1 pointment he had made. He had hitherto spoken of the prin.' ciple of the appointment ; lie would have spoken of the indi-' vidual appointed. But, with respect to this appointment, be fore it was made Lord Lichfield offered the situation to Mr. Mole and to Mr. Mason, of the General Post-office. Mr. Mole would not accept it because he was in the receipt of 5001. salary, and because it was necessary that he should give security to the amount of 5,000/. Mr. Mason refused it be cause ho enjoyed a salary of 3001,, and he did not think it worth while to go to the trouble of getting security to the a nount required. There were only two others who bad ap plied for the situation—one a postmaster, who certainly pos sessed considerable claims, and the other a junior clerk, who had been only appointed a year before, and whose ambition suggested to him that if he could get the appointment he might ultimately become one of the Commissioners for the manage ment of the Post-office itself. Undoubtedly he thought that this was a situation which should be filled by a person for whose integrity the public had sufficient guarantee, and who was of some rank in life, and on whom dependence could be placed. He was surprised at the personal objection made to Mr. Prim rose. He was a young man who had been bred up to the law, and who was likely to have a sufficient knowledge of business to enable him to fill the situation with advantage. In his (Colonel Anson's) mind, if anything could be said with re spect to the payment of the situation, it was rather underpaid than overpaid. But if a different course had been pursued, and Mr. Mole or Mr. Mason appointed, they would still have objections: they would hear it said that appointing this indi vidual was keeping up the old official system, and that instead of promoting these old officials fresh matter ought to be in fused. He thought neither with respect to the principle nor the individual was the appointment objectionable. Sir J. GRAHAM could not agree with the Honourable Member who had just sat down, in his censure of the Hon. Member for Kilkenny for having brought forward his motion. The Honourable Member for Stafford bad said that personal feeling was mixed up with this question. If it was his mis fortune to be opposed to this appointment, he supposed he would be accused of personal malignity. The Noble Lord the Postmaster -General was an old friend of his, with whom he was intimately acquainted, and the Noble Lord the father of the gentleman appointed to the situation in question was also a friend of his ; but, notwithstanding, if a sense of duty obliged him to condemn the appointment, he would not shrink from doing so. Ho had come down to the House doubtful as to the question, thinking that there was something that re quired to be cleared up, and having listened to the discussion he found it his duty not to concur in the motion of the lion. Member for Kilkenny. The Right Hon. Baronet proceeded to read the terms of Mr. Hume's motion, and said that he could not concur in affirming the statements contained in that motion. The resolution stated that the appointment had been made contrary to the regulations of the public service. Now he knew no such regulations which could the effect unless they received the sanction of the Crown. New appointments had been alluded to as having been made by his Noble Friend the Duke of Richmond. The first appointment was that of Re ceiver-General in Ireland, and the next that of Postmaster- General in Jamaica. Now, with respect to the first appoint ment, when a vacancy occurred the right to fill the vacancy was generally exercised by the Irish Government. With re epect to the Post-office of Jamaica, the situation of Postmas ter-General having become vacant, it was offered by the Duke of Richmond to four or five individuals, but those individuals not being able to procure the necessary security of 10,0001., the situation was given, with the consent of the Treasury, to the brother of the Noble Duke, Lord Sussex Lennox, on his finding the necessary security. He was not about to pronounce any encomium on the Duke of Richmond, but he believed it would be admitted on all hands that his Noble Friend had dis charged the duties of his high office with fidelity, zeal, and honour, and with the utmost regard to the interests of the public service. With respect to the appointment in question he did not think it came within the rule laid down by the Duke of Richmond. Lord Althorp had said that the first measure of the Duke of Richmond's was, when country post-offices of sufficient value became vacant they should be given to retired officers of the Post-office in lieu of superannuation allowances. However, that limitation was confined to country post-offices. He thought that motions calculated to wound personal feeling was not the best way to bring forward to the notice of the House of Commons any violation of the proper dispensation of the patronage of the Crown. Ile felt that the natural tendency of growing power was to augment itself wherever an oppor tunity presented itself. Let the question be brought forward in a general manner. He thought the Chancellor of the Ex chequer would act somewhat boldly in referring to cases of a similar nature. If he ( Sir James Graham) mistook not, he believed it to be a fact that Mr. Hay had been compelled to retire from the Colonial Office upon a compensation allow ance in order to make way for Mr. Stephen, and that a va cancy was reated at the Board of Trade, to which Mr. Le Marchaet was appointed.—( Hear, hear, hear.) He thought the Honourable Member for Kilkenny was usefully employed in applying his attention to subjects of this nature. And if, instead of attempting high flights upon questions of Co lonial Policy, lie would be content to skim along the mud of official proceedings, he would, in calling the attention to such subjects, be usefully employed. Let the Hon. Member fur Kilkenny give the House an opportunity to ascertain how far her Majesty's Government had carried into effect the promise of Lord Althorp that the reign of patronage was at an end. If the Hon. Member afforded that opportu nity, he trusted he would be able to show that there never was a Government in England which exercised the patronage of the Crown with a more direct and exclusive view to the aug mentation of their own political power than the Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite. Mr. BARING —The Right lion. Baronet had dealt so fairly with the general question, that it was not his intention to trouble the House, but the Right lion. Baronet could not s't down without an attack on those valued friends of his of whom he had spoken so kindly. To the attack which the Right Hon. Baronet had threatened, he could only say, that whenever he brought the question before the House he would be ready to meet him, and to rest the defence of the Govern ment either on their own conduct, or on a comparison with the conduct of other Governments, which ever way the Right Honourable Baronet chose to take it. He hoped, however, the Right Hon. Baronet would be more accurate in his facts than lie was with respect to the cases alluded to. With respect to Mr. Hay, that case had already been discussed in the House, and the Right Hon. Baronet appeared to for get that the superannuation granted was in the nature of a political pension, granted by the Government who had pre ceeded them in office. He thought the Right Hon. Baronet had been long enough in office to know that a gentleman of the name of Lack had, at the termination of fifty years' service, applied for the retired allowance, and that Mr. Lo Merchant had been appointed to succeed him. Mr. P. THOMSON said that as he was responsible for the appointment alluded to, he begged leave to explain how it was that Mr. Le Merchant came to the Board of Trade. Mr. Stephens had received a salary of 5001. a year as Counsel to the Board ; and when Mr. Lack, after 50 years' service, applied for superannuation, it occurred to him (Mr. Thom son) that the salary received by Mr. Stephens might be saved by appointing a member of the legal profession Under Secre tary to the Board. It was for this reason that Mr. Le Mar chant was appointed. Mr. HUME, in answer to a question put by an Hon. Member below him, begged to disclaim any motive of a per tonal nature in making Isis motion. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. On returning to the gallery we found the numbers to bey For the motion ........................... 29 Against it ............................. 202 Majority ..................... 173 Lord J. RUSSELL stated that it was his intention on Friday next to call the attention of the House to their mo tion of the llth of June, 1833, and the 30th of June, 1835, respecting the right of the Speaker to strike certain voters off the registry. Lord STANLEY requested that his Lordship would so far consult the convenience of the House as to state what was the specific nature of his motion. Lord J. RUSSELL said that it wait his intention to pro pose the amendment of the resolution of 1835. It appeared to him, and to the law officers of the Crown, that the statutes having reference to representation in Ireland not containing provisions similar to the English Act the House had not peace to strike voters off; ho would, therefore, propose to make the resolution consistent with the Act of Parliament. BRITISH AND BELGIAN LINENS. Mr. R. PARK E wished to ask the Right Hon. the Secre tary for the Board of Trade whether he had heard that it was the intention of the French Government to admit the linens of }li' SUN, LONDON, TMESDAY, 11:1gium into Prance on terms greatly more favourable than hose on which it permitted the ImpottatiOn of linens of Bri t'sh manufacture If tuck should prdve the fact he must greatly regret the hostility which such Conduct Would evince on the part of the French Government. Mr. P. THOMSON had not as yet had any certain infor mation on the subject. The whole question of the linen !titles was nOt es 'et under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, and he had some reason to hope when it should come under consideration it would be arranged in a more favourable manner than had been anticipated from the first discussion. DUTY ON POLICIES OF ASSURANCE. Colonel SIBTHORP, in making his motion for the re diction of this duty, hoped that he would not be opposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the miserable pret •xt that the finances of the country would not bear any diminu ion of taxation. Government had remitted a great many taxes not near so oppressive as the one now under discussion. On looking over the paper he found that the duty on rhubarb —(A laugh)—on human hair, on anchovies and French wines, on balsam of copaiba, and jalap—(Great laughter)— had been reduced, although these were all articles of luxury, and deserved to be taxed. He also found a reduction in the duty on playing cards. To be sure these might be an article of necessity to many Hon. Members—(A laugh)—but while these taxies on mere luxuries were remitted by wholesale the tax on Policies of Assurance, one which affected a very largo portion of the community, remained as high as at any period during the war. The effect of the present high rate of duty was to transfer a great deal of the business to foreign offices —indeed he heard a report, for the accuracy of ehich he could not vouch, that, previous to the late fire in the Temple, the law gentlemen residing there had met for the purpose of considering whether it would be adv'sable to insure that building in a French office. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—No, no. Colonel SIBTHORP—It might be so; but, however, a great many buildings were insured in foreign offices; this would be prevented by a reduction of the duty, which reduc tion would not ultimately prove any loss to the revenue. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that a reduction of the tax had already taken place, but the sup.. posed concomitant inc rease h a d not taken place. By the balance sheet of January it appeared that, so far from a sur plus revenue, there was a deficiency to the amount of 655,000/. He could show to those who were acquainted with commercial :matters that no financial measure could have averted the commercial crisis from which this country had lately escaped. It arose from the state of things in America reacting upon this country. An experiment such as that purposed by the Noble and Gallant Member could not be made when there was no surplus revenue to be given away. Was there any other tax which the Gallant Gentleman would propose in lieu of that which he proposed to do away with ? Pledged as this country was to the public creditor, and hound as it was to support the national honour, the question could not at present be entertained. With respect to reduc tion of taxes, those were always considered most fit to be re duced which were found to be decreasing as a source of reve nue. The opposite was the case with respect to the tax now proposed to be reduced. The income from this tax, for the last three years, was as follows :—ln the first it was 809,0001., in the next 844,0001., and in the third 872,0001. Under those circumstances he did not see that the question was one which could be just then entertained. Sir G. SINCLAIR hoped his Honourable and Gallant Friend would withdraw his motion. Colonel SIBTHORP would feel it his duty to take the sense of the House on the question. Sir E. KNATCHBULL hoped the motion would be with drawn. He would take that opportunity of putting a question to the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer with re spect to the financial statement. Last year the Right Hon. Gentleman seemed unwilling to give an immediate answer to a similar question, and then stated that he would give ample reasons for the delay, when he brought the statement forward. He (Sir E. Knatchbull) was present when the statement was brought forward, and yet he had not heard those reasons. It was necessary that the public should be informed as to the time when a matter of so much importance should be brought before the House. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would, to, so distant a question, give a distant reply. The financial year ended on the 6th of April, and as soon after that date as the accounts could be made up he should be prepared with his statement. He hoped to be ready some time in April. Mr. HUME said, with respect to the motion of the Hon. and Gallant Member (Colonel Sibthorp), he was satisfied the revenue would not suffer from a reduction of the tax. He was anxious to see the question fairly tried, and would vote with the Hon. Member, but did not think this was the proper period for bringing it forward. Lord MAHON regretted that he should be obliged to vote against the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman, as lie did not think such a proposition should be made without a great deal of eon deration. The House then divided, when there appeared— For Colonel Sibthorp's motion .. Against it 95 Majority On our return to the Gallery we found Lord llowick reply ing to some question of Mr. Hume's, but wo could not collect its import. Tho House then went into a Committee of Supply. ARMY ESTIMATES. Lord HOWICK, in bringing before the House the Army Estimates for the year, thought he should best perform his duty by drawing the attention of Hon. Members to the diffe rence between the estimates of this and the last year. H e would first name the number of men whom it was proposed to vote. There would be an apparent increase of 8,000 men, but to those who attended to these matters it would be obvious that the increase was only apparent. The real increase would be found to be much less. It was the practice far some years to keep the regiments a certain number short. The whole sum was not voted, but a certain deduction was made for the non-effective force. The deduction last year was eight men in the infantry corps and five men in the cavalry. It was proposed to add to the cavalry force 880 men. With respect to the infantry, the intention was that all the regiments in the North American colonies, or about to be or dered there, were to be completed to their full establishment. It was also intended to revert to the old practice of not stating the non-effective force by the number of men, but by the amount in money. The last year there had been an increase of 118,0001; in the present year there would be one of 110,0001., making on the whole, as would be seen by the Estimates, a difference of 71,0001. It would also be observed that there was an addition to the land forces of 4000/. charged upon the additional officers which had been requisite to send to Canada. It had been thought expedient to employ certain officers on full pay in Canada under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, which would make an increase of 9 0261. This was, in fact, met by some savings on the other estimates; and 2,580/. had been transferred to the Staff from the Army Estimates to the Ordnance Estimates, in accordance with a Bill which had been passed last year. The whole result of last year's arrangement was 37,322/. saved, lion. Members were aware that one large item had been provided for in 1831 by the transfer of 9,5001. from the War Office, which was now put to the account of the regimental expendi ture of the troops sent to Canada, such as clothing and re cruiting. He was also happy to state that 24,000/. had been f paid into the military chest of Canada, which came in aid of the supplies of the mother country. It had been also thought necessary to give the power of a Commander-in-Chief to the offiecr governin g in Canada, which had rendered it necess ar y to increase the Staff by the addition of two Major-Generals, and one had been added to the Colony of New South Wales, the increase in the affairs of that Colony rendering the duty of the Governor very onerous, and it had, therefore, been con sidered highly necessary to divide the civil and military de partments, so that the former might be intrusted to the undis tracted care of one individual. The Noble Lord then said that there might be said to be a supplementary history to the present Estimates, and ho only proposed the present as a tem porary arrangement, as he might, on some future occasion, have to come down to the House and claim its liberality fur a larger demand. It would depend entirely on the condition of the Colonies, but he must say, that the future liberality of the House might be called for in consequence of the condition of the Canadas. These, however, would not be in the usual Estimates, but, as he had said, supplementary. The Noble Lord concluded by moving that 89,305 men be the effective force of the army for the present year. Mr. HUME expected that the Noble Lord would have shown that a considerable reduction had taken place, and that as Ireland was tranquil, and Canada was said to be at peace , there had been the reduction of at least two regiments of ca valry and one of infantry. More men had been demanded than in the time of the Duke of Wellington's Administration. The House seemed at all times to encourage the Ministers in extravagance, and he saw no reason why, Ireland being tran quil, there should not have been at least a reduction of 10,000 men. It had been clearly shown by the Noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Department before the Finance Com mittee in the time of Lord Castlereagh's Administration that by proper regulations a force of 300,000 men might be as easily supported as one of 200,000, by which there would be a saving of one-third. He thought also it would be very desirable, as it was in the Austrian army, that there should be no pet regiment, and that each regiment should, in their turn, enjoy the honour of attending upon their Sovereign, and that such a privilege should not be exclusive, which would produce a degree of equalization in the army much to the advantage of the service. The Honourable Member concluded by moving that the number of men proposed be reduced by ton thousand. Captain WOOD deprecated the plan suggested by the Hon. Member for Kilkenny for governing the ariuy, as it would have the effect of placing it altogether in the hands of the Secretary-at-War. Such a system of government would have a most detrimental effect on the service.—( Hear.) The Hon. and Gallant Member defended the Life Guards from the attacks in the observations of the Hon. Member for Kilkenny. He said that force had been always found faithful to their So vereign and their country, and that the establishment of such a body of troops conduced greatl♦ to the splendour and dig nity of the Crown.—(Hear, hear.) The lion. Member for Kilkenny had asked where tho additional troops were now wanted ? Ho (Captain Wood) would reply, in Canada — (I-fear)--where, he would take leave to add, if 2,000 men had been sent long since, there would be no occasion to send 10,000 at present.—( Hear. ) Lord J. RUSSELL could not let some of the observations of the Hon. Member fur Kilkenny pass unanswered or uncoil. tradicted. There were 5,000 troops less in Ireland now than there were five years ago ; and, if such disaffection had pre vailed in that country as did in Canada, a larger force would have been asked for. The Hon. Member had asked where the additional troops were required? He (Lord John Rus sell) would answer that, setting aside Canada, they were re quired in various parts of the United Kingdom. In Scot land, for instance, last year, he had been obliged to send troops there when a particular occasion required it, not to weaken the northern depots by drawing cif the regular amount of their force. The Hon. Gentleman had said that the present Go vernment had gone on increasing the army since they bad come into office, and thk there were 10,000 men more now in pay than had been on the resignation cif the Doke of Wellington. Rut what was the real fact ? Previous to the Duke of Wel l;ngton leaving office there was a reduction of 7,634 men ill the amount of the military force of the country, which was, however, replaced by Lord Gro)'s Government in 1831. In 1834 a reduction to nearly the same amount again took place, and so had the army continued ever since. The Hon. Gen tleman had made some observations on the Guards. Now, looking at the whole history of those troops he (Lord J. Rus sell) did not think the Hon Gentleman's reproach by any means a deserved one ; still less was it deserved now when a rortion of them were going to serve their country in Canada. Under all these circumstances he (Lord John Russell) hoped the House would not agree with the amendment of the Hon. Member. Mr. GILLON said that the increase of force in Canada was for the purpose of coercion, and to keep down that colony, not to defend it. Sir H. VERNE Y observed that if it were intended by this country to retain her colonial possessions in America the amount of military force required was absolutely necessary. He hoped, therefore, that the Government would not be persuaded to swerve from their original proposal. Lord HOWICK, in addition to what had fallen from his Noble Friend (Lord J. Russell), did not believe that the Hon. Member for Kilkenny's statement was correct that the pro portion of Officers in the English service was greater than that in any other service whatsoever. Neither was the Hon. Gentleman correct in stating that the disproportion of officers to men was greater now than it had been at his favourite period of 1792. On the contrary, it was much less. In the latter year it was as 1 to 12, whereas, at the present time, it was Ito 18i. With respect to the reductions proposed by the Hon. Member, he (Lord Howick) was entirely opposed to the plan suggested by him. In 1821 and 1822 there had been a reduction of 21,000 men in the army, a very great proportion of which were placed on the Pension List; but not two years after it was found absolutely necessary to increase it by 15,000 new men. Thus was the country put to the expense of pro viding the latter and paying the pensions of the former—a re sult which would inevitably ensue again if the Hon. Member's plan were carried into effect. Sir E. KNATCHBULL, who was nearly inaudible in the gallery, rose to suggest that there should be some restraint laid upon the expenses of the mission of Lord Durham, other . wise the supplemental vote which the Noble Lord (Howick) would have to call on the country for might be incalculable. Lord J. RUSSELL did not anticipate, as we understood, any very great difference between the expenses which were likely to be incurred by Lord Durham, in the prosecution of his mission, and that of any ordinary Governor. But, at all events, as it was a special mission, he (Lord J. Russell) did not think there could be any restriction laid on the expenses without injuring its success. In the eases of Lord Cowley, despatched to Madrid in the last war, and Lord Stewart do Rothesay, there was no particular sum assigned for their expen diture, and he thought that the House had done well in defray ing their expenses on their return. Lord PALMERSTON said that in his evidence before the Committee, in 1828, he had shown that, so far from there being a saving by increasing the battalions from 800 men to 2,000 there would be an increased expense of upwards of 8,0001. The Committee then divided, when the numbers were the original vote For the amendment Majority The sum of 152,566/., was voted for the payment of Gene ral Staff, and other Officers of her Majesty's land service. The sum of 3,252,9621. was voted for defraying the expense of the military service of the year. 57,0001. for Principal Officers of Military Departments. The sum of 15,803/. was voted for the expenses of military asylums and hospitals. The sum of 15,9811. for military rewards aid other expenses. 529,000/. for defraying the expenses of half-pay. 103,000/. for defraying the expenses of General Officers. 60,0001. for Full Pay of Reduced and Retired Officers. 69,500/. for reduced officers and foreign corps. 148,6501. for the payment of 'idows' pensions. 139,0001. for the Compassionate Fund. 1,310,474/. for the expenses of Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals, and other military establishments. 44,0001. for superannuation allowances. 10,000/. for the expenses of a force to be raised at the Cape of Good Hope for temporary service. The House then resumed. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that it was his intention to go on with this Bill on Friday next, as the Honourable and Learned Member for Liskeard would be unable to proceed with the Controverted Elections Bill on that day. COPYIIOLDS ENFRANCHISEMENT BILL. On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, the following Members were nominated for the Select Committee on this Bill : Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Goulburn, Sir Edward Knatchbull, Sir James Graham, Sir William Follett, Mr. Yorke, Mr. Darby, Mr. Freshfield, Mr. James Stewart (Iloniton), Mr. liayter, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Duckworth, Mr. Strutt, Mr. Ag li3nbv, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, Mr. Ayshford Sandford, Mr. Wil liam 'John Blake, Lord Viscount Eastnor, Mr. William Miles, Mr. Wrightson, and Sir John Campbell. Mr. FOX MAULE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to improve the system of prisons and prison discipline in Scot land. The Bill was read a first time. The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in the two following Bills : " Bill for regulating the sequestration of the Estates of Bankrupts. Bill to amend the Law of Scotland in matters relating to bankruptcy, personal diligence, arrestments, poind ing of goods, inhibitions, adjudications, judicial sales, powers of sale, and poindings of the ground." Mr. FOX MAULE moved that an Address be presented to her Majesty, praying for a further return respecting those individuals confined in the Penitentiary about whom so much discussion had - lately taken place. 111 r. RICE postponed for the present the re-appointment a the Committee on Joint-stock Banks. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter before Twelve o'Clock. tz PHUT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. Thislaflmsufreeen if ici ae 01 he ve as day th e C o mmitt ee on t h e Dublin election petition will bo ballotted for , and we trust we shall b e f org i ven f or urging on Liberal Members th e necess i ty of a good atter-- d a „ ce. We wish to :use no h ar d wor d s —we will not charge Tory Members with perjury; but we have no h es it at i on i n say ing that if ten hu ndr ed oaths were administered t o th e mem b ers of the Comm i tt ee, w e should notwithstandi ng a d v i se M r. O'Connell a nd his coll eague to avoid defendi ng th e retura should there be a ma j ori ty of Tory members o n th e C omm i ttee. The bias of Tories is of wonderful poten c y ; i t not on l y over povvers the judgment, him folsa e lbutplays;ll,le when nst underf: ntr.stie the tric in k . s with the memory. A man whose memory during a long never playedthe fell enchanter bias, b ecome i nstantly as oblivious e h a d been dragged th roug h the waters of Lethe. great a dread of bias as of perjury, and arc some what inclined to think that the old Scotch saying, " Show me your man and . applicable to Tory Comm i ttees. We entreat Reform Members to do all that in them lie s to prevent the Tories from resenting the foolish figure which Mr. O'Connell lately forced them to cut, by leading themselves with the injustice of unseating him. Whether we arc to obtain an impartial tribunal for trying re turns we know not ; but from a partial Tcry ti ibunal justice is not to be expected. Once more ww ray, let Liberal Members be at their post.—Mornincr Chronicle. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. lIA T TON- GARDEN. tcsterday henry Smith, a fellow attired in a smock•frock, and with a frightful obliquity of vision, was pl ace d at t h e b ar, before ... .;:nErts, charged by:M r . Thomp t on,j ewe l_ let, is h o se of u No. v Clerkenwell-gre en , w i t h h av i ng b een found in h Mi s s Eliza Thompson, d aug h ter o f t h e prosecutor, aged 17, house Atr sili intent to co mm i t a f e l ony. 's V who was exceedingly affected, stated that on Sunday night last, about a quarter before ten o'clock, she returned home, and on entering the i_assage she was much alarmed at seeing the pri soner and another man, who were coming up from the kitchen. The prisoner said " Never mind, it's only a lark," when he rushed by her into the street, followed by his companion, who made his escape ; but witness screamed, and pursued him with tho cry of " Stop thief," and she at length laid hold of his sleeve and continued to call for assistance, when he knocked her down, and ran off; but he was eventually knocked down by a young man, and given into the custody of a police con stable. Sh e pos i t i vely identified the prisoner. Mr. Thompson heard tr.e screams of his daughter and pro ceeded to her assistance; and on entering the kitchen with the constable he found a crowbar and a phosphorus box, with lucifer matches. Mr. Roones inquired :whether the prisoner was known ?—. Several of the officers recognised him as an old thief, who had boon repeatedly in custody, and convicted. Mr. ROGERS committ e d the prisoner to the house of Cor rection and hard labour for three months. Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle enlarged, and no additional charge—Price Fivepence. On Sunday, March 25th, the promised enlargement of Bell's Life Londo n will take place, thereby affording additional scope for the extens i on of its Miscellaneous as well as Sporting In telligence. Extraordinary efforts will be made, by the employ ment of competent correspondents, to procure the most accu rate accounts of the approaching Coursing Meetings in all parts of the kingdom —Steeple Chace.;—flunting exploits, and every event interesting to the Sporting world—while, in the Racing department, the high reputation and accuracy of this widely circulated Journal, will be fully sustained. Orders received by every News Agent in the United Kingdom. Sport ing Advertisements of Coursing Meetings, Steeple Chaces, Race Meetings, &c., must be sent to the Office on or before the Friday previous to publication —a rule also applicable to the Sporting communications of our friends. Price of Bell's Life in London, five pence. Office, No. 170, Strand, where can be had for threepence each, together or separate, parts I, 2,3, 4 . , and 5, o f t h e G a ll ery o f C om i ca li t i es ; the 5 parts contain 438 comic wood -cuts, the cost of which, designing, and engra v i ng , excee d ed two thousand pounds—near two millions have been sold—never out of print. Part 6of the Gallery of Coincalities, price threepence only, will be pub lished at No. 170, Strand, on the 30th of April. Any of the Parts taken back, and the cost price of twopence each returned, before Jan. 1, 1839. Placards for shop windows. SIR JOHN CONROY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Lincoln's-inn, 11Erch 12, 1836. Sin,—On behalf of Sir John Conroy, we request your in sertion of the enclosed correspondence in your Journal of to. morrow the 13th.—We are, Sir, your obedient servants, WILLIAMS, BROOKS, POWELL, and BnonEßir. In consequence of an article which appeared in the Times newspaper of Friday the 9,h, the following correspondence has taken place between the solicitors of Sir John Conroy and the edAor and solicitor of the Times newspaper : " Lincoln's-inn, March 9, 1838. " are instructed by Sir John Conroy to apply to you for the name of the author of a paragraph in the Times newspaper of to-day, reflecting upon his character, in order that he may forthwith institute a criminal information against the writer of the article in ques'ion. NVe are, Sze., " WILLIAMS, BROOKS, POWELL, and BRODRRIP, " To the Editor of the Times Newspaper." " Times Office, Friday Evening, March 9, 1838. " GENTLEMEN,-11l reply to your note of this day, I beg to refer you to my solicitor, Mr. Dobie, 2, Lancaster-place, Waterloo-bridge. " I am, &c., " JOHN JOSEPH LAWSON. " To Messrs. Williams, Brooks, Powell, and Broderip." " Lancaster-place, March 12, 1838. " DEAR SIRS,-In answer to your application of the 9th inst., to the editor of the Times, requesting the name of the author of a paragraph which appeared in that Journal of that date, reflecting,' as you allege, 'on the character of Sr John Conroy,' I am instruct d to inform you that your application cannot be complied with. " I am, &c., " ALEXANDER DOBIE. " To Messrs. Williams, Brooks, Powell, and Broderip.' " Lincoln's-inn, March 12, 1838. " DEAR ,Stn,—The editor of the Times having refused, as appears by your letter of this day, to give up the name of the author of the paragraph which appeared in that journal of the 9.l inst., reflecting upon the character of Sir John Conroy, we arc instructed to inform you that we shall apply for a cri minal information against the editor on the first day of next term, the 16th of April, being the earliest day upon which we are entitled to move the Court of Queen's Bench. " We are, &e., " WILLIAMS, BROOKS, POWELL, and BRODERIP. " To Alexander Dobie, Esq., &c." COURT CIRCULAR. Her Majesty left the new Palace on horseback shortly be fore one o'clock yesterday afternoon, attended by Baroness Lehzen, Earl of Uxbridge, the Hon. Colonel Cavendish, and Sir Frederick Stovin, and passed from St. James's Park through Pall-mall, Regent-street, and Portland-place into the Regent's Park, returning to the Palace at half-past three o'clock. The Duke of Cambridge visited her Majesty yesterday. In the evening the following joined the Royal circle at dinner —Viscount Melbourne, Lord Glenelg, Lord Russell, the Right Honourable Edward Ellice, and the Hon. Spencer Cowper. The Duke 'and Prince George of Cambridge honoured the Earl of Mansfield with their company at dinner on Sunday, at his residence at Cacn Wood. Prince Esterhazy was expected to leave Paris yesterday for London. The Marchioness of Sligo will give a ball and supper or Wednesday, the 28th inst., at her mansion in Mansfield -street, Portland-place. The earl and Countess of Shrewsbury and family returned from St. Leonard's on Saturday evening, to their house in Stanhope-street. The Spanish Minister transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office. The Marquis of Sligo, the Bishop of Exeter, and Mr. Hodges, M. P., had an interview with Lord Glenelg yester day at the Colonial-office. Mr. B. Hawes, M. P., Mr. Under- Sheriff' Wire, Mr. Vous ley, Mr. Walter, Mr. Bryon, Mr. Tatt, Mr. Swalton, Mr. Hoare, Mr. Dullen, and Mr. Willock, a deputation from the Licensed Victuallers Protection Society, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday in Downing street. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS. The Dowager Lady and Mias Langham at the Lansdowne Hotel ; the Hon. Captain Spencer, R.N., from Earl Spen cer's; Sir Robert and Lady Fitz Wygram, in Connaught place, from Essex ; Count de Chabot, at the French Ambas sador's, in Bryanston-square, from Paris ; Mr. and Lady Cecil Delafield, in Bryanston-square, from the Earl of Lime rick's seat in Berks; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Morris and family in Portman-square ; Colonel and Mrs. Wells, at the Pulteney Hutel,'frora Surrey. DEPARTURES. Mrs. and Mrs. Henry Shuttleivarth and family, from tho Trafalgar Hotel, Spring-gardens, for Leicestershire ; Mr. and Mrs. Crosby and family, from the Pulteney Hotel, for Wilt shire; Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont Swete, from Mason's Hotel, for their scat near Exeter. SPORTING INTLLLIGENCE, TA T TER SA L L' S— YE.Yrrnrol r. The business was uncommonly languid in the earl y part of the afternoon ; and, although it slightly improved towards the close, it was, on the whole, very flat. Lord Jersey's colt was in high favour, the sevens to one being snapt up so eagerly that long before the day terminated the bidders against him refused to exceed 6 to I. Nonplus gave way to Grey Momus ; and D'Egville, upon whom two or three ponies were " thrown away" (1y), at 20 to I, was suffered to drop two points beyond that before the room closed. A few scores and fifties were laid out on Cobham, The Early Bird, and Young Rowton, without effecting any change. Offers to take 30 to 1 about Monc Adam, but no business done. Mr. Forth's Conservative (by The Colonel) was backed at 2,000 to 25, and 3,000 to 45 outright ; and for 2,600 even against another outsider, but on that class of favourites there was scarcely any disposition to speculate. The average prices at the finish were as follows : TME RIMILESIVORT/I. 7 to 4 on Cobweb colt—taken TnE DEASY. 6 to 1 agst. Lord Jersey's Cobweb colt—lake 7 to 1 10 to l agst Lord G. Bentinck's Grey Momus—take 11 to 1 12 to 1 agst Mr. Armitage's Nonplus colt—taken 16 to 1 agst Colonel Peel's lan—offered 17 to 1 agst Mr. E. Peel's The E..rly Bird—taken 20 to 1 agst Mr. H. Coombes's Cobham—taken 22 to 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck's offered 22 to 1 agst Mr. Bland's Young Ilowton—taken 2.5 to 1 agst Mr. Richardson's Mono Adam—take 30 to 1 28 to 10 agst Lord Suffield's Bamboo—taken 28 to 1 agst Captain Berkeley's Bullion—taken 30 to 1 agst Lord.Westminster'sßichard Rce—taken and after wards offered 30 o 1 agst Sir J. Mills's Volunteer—taken 30 to I agst Ld Exeter's Alendar—taken 30 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Bretby—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Ford's Quo Minus—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Watt's Dash--taken 50 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Tranby's dam colt—taken 60 to 1 agst Mr. A. Smith's Cracker—offered 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Forth's Conservative--taken 2000 to 30 agst Gen. Grosvenor's Daedalus—taken 1000 to 10 agst Mr. Lambden's Dromedary—taken and after. off. 2000 even between the Conservative and Mr. Bond's Scurry colt 1100 to 100 agst Young Rowton and Monc Adam—taken 350 to 50 and 700 to 100 agst Grey Momus and D'Egville—taken 1000 to 35 agst Cobweb winning the Derby and Glenara the Oaks—taken TILE OAKS. 8 to 1 azst Lord Suffield's Callisto—taken 9 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's Glenara—t ,ken 10 to 1 agst Duke of Grafton's Unique—taken II to 1 agst Mr. E. Peel's Ninny—taken 12 to 1 apt Lord Berners' filly—taken 14 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Ilowton's dam filly—taken Lord Albemarle's Oaks mare Flea fell dead in her stable at New market a few days ago. The famous steeple-chase horses Jerry and Splendour were sold yesterday, the former for 400 and the latter for 250 guineas. Accounts front Newmarket represent the ground to be in excel lout order, and the horses very healthy. VOCAL SOCIETY. - - The fifth Concert for the present season, of the above So ciety, took place last night at the Hanover-square Rooms. At most of the Concerts we have heard of late, there has been a large preponderance of instrumental music. This, with the exception of an opening overture of Romberg, and a concertino of Mayseder, splendidly played by • Blagrove, at the commencement of the second part, was entirely confined to vocal, accompanied, however, by a full orchestra, com prising some of our best performers. The Concert was long, and, on the whole, rather heavy, but comprised some excel lent compositions, which the public have not the opportunity of hearing at any other meeting of the season. A scene from Klein's" Job" was the first vocal piece, sung by Mr. Stretton. We can not say much of this composition, either in regard to the composition itself, or the style in which it was sung. Mr. Suet ton's .voice is powerful, but not the most agreeable in qua lity of tone. It concluded, however, with a fine chorus, " Pridse be to God." Stevens' glee, " Blow, blow, thou winter wind," was not well sung. The upper voices (boys) were thin and wiry, and not well in tune. A recitative and cavotina of Haydn, " Dov'e Parnato," was tastefully sung by Miss M. B. Hawes, who has a voice of a very pleasing- qua lity, and sings with great expression. A madrigal, of the date of 1600, by tiateson, in five parts, received an unanimous encore. It is a striking composition, and shows that our ancestors had successfully cultivated musical science at that early period. The remainder of the first part of the concert was occupied by a selection from Haydn's " Seasons," in which Miss Birch was the leading vocalist, and sang with great beauty of voice. The concluding chorus, " Hark the mountains resound,".was given with great spirit, and the hems, which wore remArkablv we ll p l a y e d, ha I a characteristic cud inspiriting eli. et. In the second part, Mrs. Alfred Shaw gave the recitative and air of Thompson, " I shudder at my past career," and " Virgin holy !" In her hands, aided by the splendour of her unrivalled voice, this composition is very effective, and was much ap plauded. A selection from \Veber's " Oberon" followed. In this the intricate chorus, " Light as fairy foot can fall," wa s well sung, and accompanied with great delicacy, and Miss Birch and Mrs. Alfred Shaw both acquitted themselves in a style that left the admirers of Weber nothing to wish for. The beautiful air, " A lonely Arab fluid," by the latter was a great treat. The instrumental accompaniments, which, by the bye, are, rather too redundant, were very skill- i _ ri .._ . Lilly played. A madrigal of Ferretti, of the date 1580, fol: lowed, and received the same testimony of approval from the audience as the one in the first part of the concert, being una nirncusly encored. The next piece was Horsley's glee for five voices, '• Oh, the sweet contentment." It was much better sung than the glee in the first part. Bishop's fine cherus frcm the Opera of The Maniac, 4. The tiger couches in the wood," cinclucied the performance. It was well sung, at.d the orchestra, which was lcd by Mr. Dando and con ducted by Mr. Lucas, played with that spirit and energy which naturally resulted from the conviction that they were engaged in giving effect to the conceptions of an Englishman whose talents entitled him to rank by the side of the most successful Continental composers. The concert attracted a highly fashionable auditory, hut the room, we observed with regret, would have afforded accommodation to a great num. bcr more than were present. THEATRES. CO VENT. GARDEN. The tragedy of Coriolanus was last night produced at this theatre—we may fairly say revived, not only because the tra gedy has for some years been almost a stranger to the London boards—but because it has now been brought out in a manner unknown in recent times. Most sincerely do we rejoice at another of those noble efforts on behalf of Shakspeare, which have reflected so much honour on the management of this theatre. Of those fine plays in which Shakspeare has applied himself to the embodying, in a dramatic form, some of those interest.. ing stories with which Roman history abounds, the tragedy of Coriolanus probably ranks the highest. Tho dramatic interest is greater, the characters more varied, and the story more in structive. If we may use such an expression, it is one of the most useful of Shakspeare's plays. The portion of the history of Rome which it embodies, is more than ordinarily pregnant with 'instruction to the people of a free State like ours. The struggle between the conflicting elements of aristocracy and democracy which it exhibits, is even at this moment, though happily in rather a milder or less violent form—going on in this country. And what, then, can be more instructive than the picture of' the heart-burnings, dissensions, and contests which the want of a proper balance between these opposing powers occasioned in ancient Rome ? Shakspeare has done more to make this in struction available to the people, by this immortal drama, than could have been effected by all the historical volumes that have ever been penned. He here has painted with equal truth and power the characteristics both of democracy and aris tocracy, as exhibited in this chapter of Rome's history ; and with a fidelity, which ho alone exercises, he exhibits the evils and the faults of both in strict impartiality. He points out the fickle, changeable, ever-varying, ungovernable nature of the one, and the proud, selfish exclusiveness of the other. The character of Coriolanus, as drawn by Shakspeare, ie exactly that of which we have read, with mingled admiration and regret, in Rome's early annals. The same unconquerable valour, the same fiery temper, the same stern, proud, unbend.. ing determination, hurrying him into dreadful resolves, from which he is rescued only by his redeeming traits of kind and generous feeling. The poet has not sought to render his portrait more agreeable, though less faithful ; nor to make the character more heroic at the sacrifice of historical truth. Coriolanus is not disinterested enough to be a patriot. There is a spice of selfishness in his composition, which neutralizes the effect of his otherwise noble qualities. He is ♦a liant, but it is rather to please himself than benefit Rome ; and "he is proud even unto the altitude of his virtue." He loves his country, but then it is as his coun try only—he " hates the common people"—he cares but for" the noble, yet unwise patricians--" he would willingly consign to the enemies' swords the " plebeian herd," whom he despises—and to avenge their ingratitude to himself would lay waste " the city which for them he contemns." He is an in stance of what a public man may become who is not ruled by principle. Brave as he is, he has not achieved that greater tri umph than the taking of a city—the governing his own spirit. Had he been actuated by real devotion to his country he would never have been impelled by the unchecked violence of his temper to a course which had well nigh ended in that country's utter ruin and his own everlasting infamy. It is impossible to speak in too high terms of the stile in which this noble tragedy has been brought out. We have more than once spoken of the splendid manner in which Shakspeare's plays are represented at this theatre. On this occasion, Mr. Macready seems to have ex ceeded even his former exertions. From the principal charac ter down to the minutest detail of scenic arrangement, there was manifested a careful study to preserve throughout as much reality and consistency as dramatic representation would allow. The turbulence of the Roman populace, the martial array of Latins and Volscians, the excitement of warlike preparations, the pomp of triumphal procession, were admirably represented. The applause which greeted the exertions of the Manager in the first scene was continued uninterruptedly to the last, parti cularly the scene in which Coriolanus makes his triumphal entry into the city—that which exhibits Rome's venerable senators, about to elect him as their Consul—and the final scene, where the Volscian army is beheld drawn up to witness his reception of the embassies from Rome. Mr. Macready'i personification of Coriolanus was na fine a piece of acting as it is possible to wish for. It is no groat praise to say that no living actor could Lav e equalled it. We doubt if as a whole it could have been excelled. As we have more than once observed, this great actor never is seen to better advantage than it classical characters ; and he pour.. trayed the haughty Roman with skill, discrimination, and power, that it would be difficult to surpass. He now is in a word the Coriolanus of Shakespeare. His contemptuous ad. dress to the factious mob, his dignified scorn to the artful tribunes— " Hear you this Triton of the minnows, Mark you his absolute shall ?" —his magnificent delivery of the speech of Coriolanus wht n exiled by his ungrateful countrymen— " have the power still to banish your defenders, Till at last your ignorance deliver you as most Abated captives to some nation That won you without blows. Despising, For you, the city, thus I turn my back— There is a world elsewhere" —and his acting in the scene where the stublorn obstinacy of the so dieryiolds to the kindly feelings of the man—were in the highest degree of excellence. But lie was perhaps greatest in the last scene ;—in the noble indignatim of the Roman vete ran's reply to the reproaches of the Volecian Chief— " 'Tis not for such as thee, so often spared If , Roman arms, to speak of Rome but With respect and awful veneration. With all our factions, all our wild contentions, - . There is more honour in one year of Roman virtue Than in ten thousand of your annals of crreping - , dark, duration." --or in the granckur of voice and ac:ion which accompanied that fine burst— " If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there, At Corioli, that like an eagle in a dovecote I fluttered you Voices— I Alone, I did it I" Mrs. Warner (late Miss Huddart) well performed Volumnia, the " Roman Matron ;" Mr. Ward, as Comminius, and Mr. Ai:de.son, as Tullus, were excellent. The frank, open hear.ed Menenius, was finely played by Mr. Bartley, who, however, unfortunrtely laboured tu.dcr a severe cold. The minor parts wcr.: all carefully filled up. At the clone Mr. Macready, in obedience to the loud calls of the audience, came forward, and was received (as he was upon first coming on) o ith enliusiastic and oft repeated rounds of applause ; anil it was ri,h unanimous approbation that tho tragedy was announced for riTr.tition on Monday next. OLYMPIA A very amusing- little piece, entitled What have I done? from the pen of Mr. Osenford. was brought out hero last night, with complete success. The dialogue of this burletta is neat and spirited, and there were several good hits which told with eff•ct on the audience. Nothing !!ould be better thin the acting of Keeley and Fdrren : albeit the company at this theatre are not accustoracd to exhibit such ♦ehe.ment b lity as at some other houses, the drollery of these two ;.rtistca forced them to relax their smiles into an actual grin. Tho piece was put upon the stage with that peculiar good taste by which this house is distingui.hed. ~~~ 7 • • ' 1 74 t r z 7 LOSS OF H.M.S. “ PINCHER." PottismouTtt, AIJNDAT.---This afternoon two Cowes pilots brought intelligence they had discovered the hull of the unfor tunate Pincher schooner, about five miles S. S. W. of the Ulcers Light-vessel, in fourteen fathoms' water. It appears the main-boom had broken away from the mast, and has floated up as far its connection with the sail will allow it, till it novr sticks up about right feet cut of the water. Her crew was not large, not more than twenty-nice, with about seven pas tingws, with some women and children ; all of whom, close to home, and in a fine evening, suddenly met a watery grave. S tiled this afternoon for the East India station, tho Vulaye, 28, Captain Henry Smith. The Speaker's first levee will be held on Saturday, the 17th instant. His Exccllency the French Ambassador will give a grail(' dinner to-morrow, at Alanel-ster House, to the Duke of Wellington and a distinguished Conservative party. . . The Earl and Countess of Cawdor give a splendid entertainmel:t this evening► to their Rerl Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at their mansion in South- AuCtley-Etrect. The President of the Council at Paris gave, on Friday, a farewell dinner to Prince Esterhszy previously to his departure for London, which, although (till suffering from the lout, he att:lided, together with several other• Arribnssa do:s and illembcri of the Cabinet. The Marquis of Lothian left Warren's Hotel, Re gent-street, for St. Leonard's-on- Sea, where his Lordship has taken the mansion which had been occupied during the wint:T by her Msjusty the Queen. Dowager Adelaide And mite. Lord Ashburton's family has been placed in mourn ing, and the grand dinners at Bath House discontinued, by the premature demise, at Madeira, of the lion. Arthur Baring, a young gentleman of great promise, youngest son of the Noble Lord. Baring had recently completed his education in Germany, and we .s destined, had he survired, t o ta k e t h e lea d in the opulent commercial house of Baring. Viscount Eastnor, 1\1.P., has been obliged to leave town in consequence of the sudden death of his youthful daughter, the !ion. Isabella Jemima Cocks, at his delightful villa at Leamington Spa. The deceased Toting lady was sister of the lion. Miss Cocks, maid of honour to her Majesty the Queen, and grand-daughter of the Earl and Countess of Somers. ft , o) K ~ r=. `~~ ~~; - x+ll r~ \~ v zr .~ la I